Wagner said the institute and Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources work together to foster and communicate research and educational outreach programs focused on water and natural resources science and management issues in Texas and beyond.

During the workshop, associate professor Dr. R. Karthikeyan and research associate Kyna Borel, biological and agricultural engineering department at Texas A&M, will provide lectures on the use of load duration curves to assess pollutant loads. They will also address the use of the Spatially Explicit Load Enrichment Calculation Tool, or SELECT, to target priority areas for implementing pollutant remediation measures, he said.

“Participants will also gain hands-on experience in the use of these tools,” Wagner said.

Load duration curves provide a graphical representation of stream flow and pollutant loading so real data can be compared to a stream’s maximum allowable load. SELECT provides a spatially explicit analysis of land use, land cover, animals, humans and other variables in watersheds to help assess actual and potential sources of bacteria.

“The course will include discussion on gathering data to populate these models and how modeling is critically linked with watershed-based planning efforts,” Wagner said.

One Texas Water Resources Institute continuing education unit will be provided upon course completion.

Registration cost is $100 and the deadline for registration is Nov. 2.